The committee of the Horsham and District Harness Racing Club are saddened by the recent and sudden passing of their friend and colleague Bernie Poulton.
Bernie as hobby trainer, breeder, owner and driver “always had one or two going around” with the mares Miss Rainmaker (six wins) and Jollie Jeparit (two wins) his best performers.
He gave away race driving in 2007 because of the demands of work but returned to the sulky a little over six months ago with the six-year-old gelding The Butcher. Bernie had bred the son of Denver Gift and Miss Rainmaker in partnership with his friend, the late Eric Hahne who “loved his horses and was always in them with me”.
Bernie was determined to get The Butcher to the races for Eric and it was a proud moment for all concerned when the “bloody cranky early on” and “silly as a wheel” pacer finally qualified at the Ararat trials and six weeks later made it’s racing debut.
A long serving Horsham committee member, track attendant and voluntary worker Bernie will be much missed by the harness racing community.
We extend our sincere and deepest sympathy to his family.
